The decision to accept the offer of a polygraph test is, was and always will be the moment when people accused of crimes throw their hands up and roll the dice. In that cramped interrogation room in Bellingham, it seemed to be a way out of a stalemate, with neither side intending to give up or give in. It was a game of craps, with only one potential winner.
The excerpts below illustrate that stalemate, with John Peel proclaiming his incredulity and the cops offering a way out. That standoff ultimately ended with John Peel entering the polygraph room. There were, to say the least, some interesting moments in between those two events.
John Peel: “Jesus Christ, I can’t believe that you guys think I did it, man.” “You guys are on the wrong track.” “I think you guys are trying to put an end to this case because it’s taking so much fucking time.” “You got to find somebody.”
Daryl Galyan: “If I ask you to take a polygraph, would you take one? Do you know what a polygraph is?”
John Peel: “Well, right now, my heart’s pounding so bad I can’t believe it.”
Daryl Galyan: “We’ll let you calm down and have a cigarette while you’re — if that’s the case.”
John Peel: “I think I’d better talk to a lawyer before I do that… Okay. I’ll — yeah, I’ll take one.”
Daryl Galyan: “John, you’ve got to make up your mind.”
John Peel: “I’m scared, man. I am scared. I can’t believe what you think I did in there.”
Glenn Flothe: “It’ll clear it up once and for all.”
John Peel: “Yeah. Okay. You bet.”
Several minutes passed before Galyan returned to the room, silently bearing an ashtray. He placed it on the table, in front of John Peel. “Calm down,” Sergeant Flothe told him, then got up and left the room. The door closed behind them. John Peel was alone now. The tape recorder kept running. John Peel started talking to himself. Started saying weird stuff and taking deep breaths. He was beyond nervous.
(courtesy Alaska State Archive)
The transcript quoted here results from an audio enhancement of the John Peel tape, produced by the FBI. The excerpt below was not allowed into the courtroom because the defense deemed it prejudicial. It begins with Sergeant Flothe telling John Peel to calm down. During the initial part of the interview, Flothe is heard coming and going from the room, at one point offering Peel a cup of coffee. During that portion of the interview, Sergeant Flothe is the “Q.” John Peel is “A.”
This tape was never heard by any of the jury members. To my knowledge, this is the first time it has been published.
Q. Calm down, and maybe we can get it cleared up once and for all.
A. Okay.
Q. Okay?
A. You bet.
Q. Okay.
A. Whew.
(Sound of door opening and closing)
A. Pretty dirty. Jesus, four witnesses identify me. Whew. Whew.
(Pause of 10 seconds)
A. Whew. Man, oh, man.
(Sound of door opening and closing)
Q. Here you go. Why don’t you have a cup of coffee?
A. No, I’m coffeed out…
Q. Are you?
A. …on caff… I’d go for something caffeine-free. A glass of water or something.
Q. Oh, let me go get it for you.
A. I need something to slow me down.
(Sound of door opening and closing)
A. Oh, why me? Jesus. Whew.
(Pause of 10 seconds)
A. Whew, four eyewitnesses? Ooh-kay. Oh, geez, why me?
(Pause of 10 seconds)
A. Whew.
(Pause of 15 seconds) (Sound of door opening and closing)
Q. There, how’s this?
A. Yeah, thank you.
(Sound of door opening and closing)
MR. PEEL: Oh. Oh, boy. Whew. Whew. Whew. Whew. (Whispers) (Inaudible) I did. Fuck.
(Sound of deep breathing for 18 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Jesus. (Pause of 12 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Whew. Guy with acne and dark hair. It’s a guy with blond hair. Fuck.
(Pause of 8 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Oh.
(Rapping sound) (Pause of 10 seconds).
MR. PEEL: Whew. Whew. Whew. Whew. Jesus. Oh.
(Sound of deep breathing for 20 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Whew.
(Pause of 10 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Oh, man. Whew.
(Pause of 18 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Whew. Oh, I’ve got to relax, whew. No way. Whew.
(Pause of 20 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Whew. Just my fucking — whew.
(Pause of 1 minute 20 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Oh, boy, Lordy, Lordy, Lordy.
(Sound of deep breathing for 16 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Jesus.
(Pause of 1 minute 20 seconds)
MR. PEEL: Oh man.
(Pause of 25 seconds)
MR. PEEL: (Whispers) Shit. (Sound of deep breathing) I done it. Oh…
(Pause of 1 minute 35 seconds)
MR. PEEL: (whispers) I can’t believe it. Wow. Shit. (Sound of deep breathing)
(Pause of 10 seconds)
(Sound of door opening and closing)
BY SERGEANT FLOTHE:
Q. Feeling a little better now?
A. Yeah. Okay.
Q. I’ve talked to the polygraphist, John.
A. Yeah.
Q. He’s available and ready. There’s a few things he needs to talk to you about.
A. Okay.
Q. And kind of explain the process and how it works and such; but, there again, it has to be your decision, not mine.
A. Yeah, I’m ready.
With that, John Peel was whisked away to the polygraph room, where Det. Dave McNeill of the Bellingham Police Dept. was waiting.
Excerpts from the unpublished original manuscript, “Sailor Take Warning,” by Leland E. Hale. That manuscript, started in 1992 and based on court records from the Alaska State Archive, served as the basis for “What Happened in Craig.”
Copyright Leland E. Hale (2019). All rights reserved.
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